Water Avenue Coffee

Oregon cafes and coffee shops were opening by the minute as we cruised through the city of Portland before sunrise. We stopped at Water Avenue Coffee, conveniently located a half a mile outside of the downtown area. Plenty of street parking and a large, open layout make it ideal for city folk and travelers to find room to enjoy locally ground brews.

Eager and excited staff greeted and enlightened us with knowledge of their menu. They had a sizable selection of specialty drinks made from their own syrups and recipes, but we decided to wake ourselves up with black cold brew and a macchiato. The cold brew coffee’s silky smooth texture went down like water but held its flavor as the ice melted. The espresso beverage displayed carefully crafted latte art that made it look as good as it tasted, with just enough of a bite to get the morning started but still velvety with each sip.

As for food, we ordered a breakfast variety: avocado toast, a granola and yogurt bowl, and an egg sandwich with a chorizo patty.

The toast was definitely unique. With an overcooked crust yet soft in the middle, this starter came topped with a lemony guacamole-like spread rather than avocado slices or smash. A bit misleading but tastefully simple and a healthier choice.

Into the granola and yogurt, our taste buds were soaring! Each bite of the homemade concoction made it hard to keep up with. Sweetened by the cinnamon clusters, hardened by macadamia nuts, grounded by seeds and oats and complemented by fruit preserves, this breakfast dish was  pieced together in the best way possible. Our only wish was that there was more yogurt to balance each spoonful.

The egg sandwich was small in size but jam packed with flavor. Nothing says pick-me-up like a fluffy fried egg on top of a charred and jalapeño-spiced chorizo patty between a hardy biscuit. It is a very savory taste early in the morning; if you’re a meat-lover then this is the best choice.

For breakfast with a brew in a trendy modern atmosphere, Water Avenue Coffee is a Portland best bet.